Browsers

Browsers are applications that allow you to access webpages. There are a number of available browsers, but we generally recommend using a modern browser like Chrome or Firefox. Luther devices are equipped with these two browsers, as well as the system’s default browser (Edge for Windows, Safari for Mac).

If you’re not comfortable browsing the internet or if your browser is acting strangely, we recommend that you contact the Technology Help Desk for personalized assistance. Below, we cover some of the more common technical issues that Luther community members face, like syncing their profile, how their browser is updated, and problems with specific web pages due to cookies or caching.

Clearing Cache and Cookies

When you use a browser, it saves a temporary copy of the website in your browser’s cache and remembers things about your visit as cookies. The cache helps a page load faster next time and cookies let the site remember things like your username, or that you are still logged in. Despite some legitimate concerns about cookies, they aren’t inherently dangerous. Still, sometimes the information in your cookies or cache can cause problems. Clearing them fixes certain problems, like loading or formatting issues on sites.

If you have a page that won’t load correctly, even after a refresh, consider clearing your cache and cookies. Here are instructions for Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Safari. One thing to keep in mind is that clearing cookies will log you out of every website and possibly cause sites to forget saved login information. If you’d like a more surgical approach, choose only to delete cookies pertaining to the problematic site.

Signing in and Syncing Profiles

Signing into your browser and syncing your profile will allow bookmarks, history, browser settings, etc. to be synced up over multiple devices so everything is easy to access. Here are some instructions for signing and syncing your profile for Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Safari.

Browser Updates

It is vitally important to keep your browser updated. Of all the good security choices you can make, keeping your browsers and OS up to date are the most important: more important than good password practices, for example. Fortunately, most internet browsers are updated automatically or through operating system updates.

Browser updates on Luther-owned computers are pushed through a software patching system. If your browser is warning you that it is critically out of date or that an update exists, we recommend that you pay close attention to our patching alerts and take the time to apply your next browser update, even if it means pausing what you’re working on. If you don’t see these updates or it doesn’t resolve your issue, contact the Technology Help Desk.

If you have more questions about browser updates or want to manually check to see if your browser is up to date, here are the appropriate pages for Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Safari, Microsoft Edge.

Bookmarks

Bookmarks are a great tool to keep websites only a click away. Bookmarks are shortcuts to a certain website. They are best used for websites you visit often, especially if the web address is long.

Unless you sign into your browser, your bookmarks are specific to each device and you risk losing them if the browser is uninstalled or your computer experiences data loss. Before attempting things like reinstalling a browser, we recommend exporting your bookmarks so that they can be restored later.
Here are some helpful instructions common tasks related to bookmarks:

Create & Organize: Firefox | Chrome | Edge | Safari
Exporting: Firefox | Chrome | Edge | Safari
Importing: Firefox | Chrome | Edge | Safari

Passwords

We recommend using a dedicated password manager, like Keeper, rather than your built-in browser or OS password manager, especially for employee’s storing work-related credentials. Here are some helpful instructions for disabling your browser’s password manager, as well as accessing and removing any passwords already stored in your browser or device: Firefox | Chrome | Edge | Safari & MacOS | Safari & iOS | Android | Windows